Boy Scouts volunteer accused of sexually abusing 15-year-old Scout

MUNCIE, Ind. — A Muncie man who held a regional title as a volunteer with Boy Scouts of America was arrested Tuesday on allegations he engaged in sex acts with a 15-year-old Scout.

James Avery Colter, 21, of the 2600 block of West Silver Tree Lane, was preliminarily charged with five counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, along with child seduction and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Court documents allege Colter — who is also a Ball State University student — brought the teen, believed to be from the Indianapolis area, to his Muncie apartment at least twice for overnight stays and sex.

The BSA volunteer is accused giving the youth an alcoholic beverage the teen believed to be vodka and "encouraged him to lie to his parents about where he was staying," an affidavit said.

Muncie police said Colter was the Region 6 "communications lead" for the Boys Scouts of America. A website for the Golden Eagle District of the BSA's Crossroads of America Council, based in Indianapolis, listed Colter as "camping and outdoor chair."

In a statement released Tuesday evening, Joe Wiltrout, Scout Executive/CEO of the Crossroad of American Council, said, "The behavior included in these allegations is reprehensible and runs counter to everything for which the Boy Scouts of America stands

"Upon learning of these reports from law enforcement, we took immediate action to remove this individual and prohibit him from an future participation in our programs."

The police investigation was prompted by a Department of Child Services probe launched on Nov. 19.

Joe Todd, a Muncie police captain, said the youth had only recently moved to the area.

The boy reportedly told investigators he met Colter at a Scouting event. A few days later, the youth said, the BSA volunteer took him to a movie and made sexual advances.

The boy and Colter are also alleged to have engaged in sex at a Boy Scouts camp that is not in Delaware County.

Investigator Amy Kesler of the Muncie Police Department wrote that "inappropriate messages" between the boy and Colter were found on the youth's phone.

Interviewed Tuesday, Colter at first denied having a sexual relationship with the youth, but he acknowledged violating "rules within the Boys Scouts" in his dealings with him, and that they slept in the same bed, Kesler wrote.

He later admitted having "several private moments" with the boy, the affidavit said, adding that if he had "a sexual relationship with (the victim), it was consensual."

Kesler reminded Colter the age of consent for sexual activity in Indiana is 16 under most circumstances.

"That's where I (messed) up," he reportedly responded.

Colter, also listed in court records at a Greenfield address, was being held in the Delaware County jail under a $27,500 bond.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.